Method of using a duster extension tube system with tube cleaner

ABSTRACT

An extension tube system for a dust particulate dispenser and a method of using the extension tube system are disclosed. The system includes a flexible duster extension tube having a central body portion with a first diameter, a first coupling end with a larger diameter, and a second dispensing end with a smaller diameter. The first coupling end is inserted over an outlet region of a dust particulate dispenser. Additional extension tubes can be connected to the second dispensing end of an extension tube to extend the reach to an area where dust particulates must be applied. A flexible duster extension tube cleaner having a cleaning element is used to clean remaining dust particulates from within the extension tubes. After the dust particulates are dispensed through the extension tube system, each extension tube is disconnected, and the tube cleaner is gripped at one end so that the cleaning element at the other end can be inserted into each flexible duster extension tube. The cleaning element is moved within each extension tube and any remaining dust particulates are expelled into a recovery container so that they may be reused or properly disposed of.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a dust dispensing system and in particular, toa flexible extension tube including a tube cleaner for a dust dispenser,and to a method for using the extension tube system and tube cleaner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Squeeze type duster dispensers such as bellows dusters are well known inthe pest control industry. One such duster is a "Gettes" duster whichtypically has a short dispensing tube for dispensing pesticide dust tothe desired area. Applying or dispensing the pesticide dust involvesbending over with the duster to reach low areas such as along thebaseboards of a house, or climbing to reach high areas along theceiling.

An extension tube system can be used to eliminate the difficulty ofapplying pesticide dust to these hard to reach areas. While the use offlexible extension tubes will extend the reach of the dust dispenser,problems still remain because, after pesticide dust has been dispensed,some of the dust remains in the extension tubes. As a result, there isan undesirable risk of mixing different types of pesticide dusts withinthe tubes and of not properly disposing of the remaining pesticide asrequired by law. Additionally, one fixed length extension tube may notalways be sufficient to ready the desired area.

Some of the dispensers shown in the prior art disclose a single flexibletube attached to the dispensers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,698discloses a pneumatic pesticide duster with a single flexible outlettube of sufficient length to treat pest harborages. U.S. Pat. No.2,336,873 discloses an insecticide dispenser attached to a singleflexible hose. However, the long flexible tubes of these prior artdispensers contain dust particulates after use, and the prior art doesnot provide for the cleaning of the tubes to remove pesticide orinsecticide.

Accordingly, what is needed is a duster extension tube system withinterconnecting extension tubes and a tube cleaner for removing thepesticide dust which remains inside the extension tubes. Such dusterextension tube system with interconnecting extension tubes can be usedto construct an extension of sufficient length to reach difficult areas.The tube cleaner can then be used to clean the individual extensiontubes when they are disconnected. The tube cleaner will allow the extradust to be saved and properly disposed of as required by law, and willprevent mixing different types of pesticide dusts within the tubes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an extension tube system for a dust particulatedispenser and a method of using the extension tube system. The presentextension tube system includes at least one flexible duster extensiontube which is made from a flexible material, such as a flexible plasticor acrylic. Each flexible duster extension tube has a predeterminedlength, a first end, a central body portion, and a second end. The firstend is removably engageable with an outlet region of a dust particulatedispenser or another extension tube, while the second end includes adust particulate dispensing region.

In the preferred embodiment, the first end includes a short piece ofsoft acrylic or rubber hose which has a diameter which is larger thanthe diameter of the central body portion of the extension tube, and thesecond end has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the central bodyportion. The second end of the flexible duster extension tube is taperedfrom the diameter of the central body portion to a slightly smallerdiameter to form the dust particulate dispensing region.

The extension tube system of the present invention also includes aflexible duster extension tube cleaner having a predetermined lengthwhich is longer than the predetermined length of the flexible dusterextension tube. The flexible duster extension tube cleaner has aflexible duster extension tube cleaning element proximate a first end ofthe tube cleaner and a gripping portion at the second end of the tubecleaner. The flexible duster extension tube cleaning element is adaptedfor insertion into the first end of the flexible duster extension tubeand for moving within the flexible duster extension tube from the firstend toward the second end to cause dust particulates remaining in theflexible duster extension tube to be expelled from the second end.

The present invention also includes a method of using an extension tubesystem for a dust particulate dispenser. A first end of a flexibleduster extension tube is first interconnected with an outlet region of adust particulate dispenser. In the preferred embodiment, the first endof the flexible duster extension tube is inserted over an outlet regionof the dust particulate dispenser and interlocks with the outlet region.Dust particulates are then dispensed through the flexible dusterextension tube to a desired area.

The first end of the flexible duster extension tube is then removed fromthe outlet region of the dust particulate dispenser. A flexible dusterextension tube cleaner is inserted into the first end of the flexibleduster extension tube and moved from the first end of the flexibleduster extension tube toward the second end, to expel any remaining dustparticulates from the flexible duster extension tube. In the preferredmethod, the remaining dust particulates are expelled into a dustrecovery container, such as the original dust particulate container.

The method of the present invention also includes interconnecting aplurality of flexible duster extension tubes to extend the reach of thedust particulate dispenser. The first end of one or more additionalflexible duster extension tubes are interconnected and interlock withthe second end of a flexible duster extension tube already attached tothe outlet region of the dust particulate dispenser. Any number offlexible duster extension tubes can thus be interconnected in thismanner to extend the reach and dispense dust in a desired area.

After removing the flexible duster extension tube from the outletregion, the plurality of flexible duster extension tubes aredisconnected. Then the flexible duster extension tube cleaner isinserted into the first end of each of the flexible duster extensiontubes and moved toward the second end of each flexible duster extensiontube to expel any remaining dust particulates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These, and other features and advantages of the present invention willbe better understood by reading the following detailed description,taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the flexible duster extension tubeaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible duster extension tubecleaner according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of the present inventionshowing the flexible duster extension tube cleaner within the flexibleduster extension tube to remove dust particulates; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dust particulate dispenser with theassembled flexible duster extension tube system according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention of a duster extension tube system includes one ormore flexible duster extension tubes 10, FIG. 1. The flexible dusterextension tube 10 has an elongated central body portion 12, a firstcoupling end 14, and a second dispensing end 16. The flexible dusterextension tube 10 typically has a predetermined length of approximately20 inches and is made of a flexible material, such as a flexible plasticor acrylic.

The first or coupling end 14 of the flexible duster extension tube 10 ispreferably a short (approximately 15 inches) piece of soft acrylic orsimilar piece of tubing which is adapted to be interconnected with anoutlet of a dust particulate dispenser such as a "Gettes" duster, or toanother extension tube as will be described in greater detail below.

In the preferred embodiment, the flexible duster extension tube 10 has afirst diameter (inside diameter) in the area of the central body portion12 which is typically about 5/16 inches and a second diameter proximatethe first coupling end 14 which is larger than the first diameter. Thesecond diameter at the first coupling end 14 is typically about 3/8inches, or large enough to fit over the extension tube 12. In thispreferred embodiment, the first coupling end 14 with the larger diameteris adapted to be inserted over and interlock with a tapered outlet tubeof the duster or over a dispensing end of another extension tube havinga diameter smaller than the diameter of the first coupling end 14.

The second or dispensing end 16 of the flexible duster extension tube 10includes a dust particulate dispensing region 18 for dispensingpesticide dust to a desired area or into another extension tube attachedto the second dispensing end 16. In the preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the flexible duster extension tube 10 has a third diameter atthe second dispensing end 16 which is somewhat smaller than the firstdiameter of the central body portion 12. The third diameter at thesecond dispensing end 16 is typically about 3/16 inches.

The duster extension tube system of the present invention furtherincludes a flexible duster extension tube cleaner 20, FIG. 2. The tubecleaner 20 includes a cleaning element 22 proximate a first end 24 ofthe tube cleaner 20. In one embodiment, the cleaning element 22 isformed by a screw 28 which has been wrapped about a first end 31 with apipe cleaner 29. The second end 33 of the screw 28 is screwed into anelongated rod 26, preferably a wooden dowel.

A second end 25 of the tube cleaner 20 has a gripping region 27 forholding the tube cleaner and inserting the cleaning element into aflexible duster extension tube. The tube cleaner has a predeterminedlength which is longer than the predetermined length of the flexibleduster extension tube 10 and is typically about 23 inches. The tubecleaner 20 has a diameter slightly smaller than the extension tube, andthus allows the tube cleaner 20 to slide within the flexible dusterextension tube so that the cleaning element 22 will expel dustparticulates from the inside surface 34 of the extension tube, as shownin FIG. 3. The tube cleaner diameter is typically about 1/4 inches.

The method of using the flexible extension tube system is illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 wherein a single flexible duster extension tube 10a, FIG.4, can be interconnected with a dust dispenser 42 for dispensing dust.The flexible duster extension tube 10a and dispenser 42 areinterconnected by removably engaging and interconnecting the firstcoupling end 14a with an outlet region 44 of the dispenser 42. Accordingto the preferred embodiment, the first coupling end 14a is inserted overan outlet tube 46 which has a diameter smaller than the diameter of thefirst coupling end 14a. The tip 45 of the outlet tube 46 releasablyinterconnects with end region 47 of the central portion 43 of the dusterextension tube 10a. A dust dispenser 42 and a series of two or moreflexible duster extension tubes 10a, 10b therefore can be interconnectedto dispense dust at a greater distance. Thus, the first coupling end 14bof flexible duster extension tube 10b can be inserted over the smallerdiameter second dispensing end 16a of flexible duster extension tube10a, to further extend the reach of the dispenser.

After dispensing dust using the flexible extension tube system, theflexible duster extension tube 10a is removed from the outlet region 44of the dust dispenser 42 and the plurality of flexible duster extensiontubes 10a, 10b are disconnected from one another. The individualflexible duster extension tubes 10a, 10b are then cleaned using the tubecleaner 20, as shown in FIG. 3.

The extension tube to be cleaned is positioned with its second end 16over a dust recovery container 30, typically the original dustparticulate container. The extension tube cleaner 20 is inserted intothe first coupling end 14 of the flexible duster extension tube 10 andis moved toward the second dispensing end 16, so that the cleaningelement 22 will contact the inside surface 34 of the extension tube 10and expel any remaining dust particulates 32 into the recovery container30. After the dust particulates have been properly disposed of in therecovery container 30, the extension tube system can be reconnected andsafely used again with a different type of pesticide dust.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a modular, variable length,extension tube system which can be assembled to suit the particularneeds of a current job at hand. After the required type of dust has beendispensed, the tubes can be removed, one by one, and cleaned to insurethat any dust particulate remaining in the tube is properly and safelyreturned to a recovery container to be properly disposed of or re-used.

Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art areconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention which is notto be limited except by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of using an extension tube system for a dust particulate dispenser, comprising:interconnecting a first end of at least one flexible duster extension tube with an outlet region of said dust particulate dispenser; dispensing dust particulates through said flexible duster extension tube; removing said first end of said at least one flexible duster extension tube from said outlet region of said dust particulate dispenser; inserting an extension tube cleaner into said first end of said at least one flexible duster extension tube; and moving said extension tube cleaner from said first end toward a second end of said flexible duster extension tube to expel remaining dust particulates from said flexible duster extension tube into a dust particulate container which originally held said remaining dust particulates.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including:interconnecting a plurality of flexible duster extension tubes in series prior to dispensing said dust particulates, said step of interconnecting a plurality of flexible duster extension tubes including the step of serially interconnecting a first end of at least one additional flexible duster extension tube to said second end of said at least one flexible duster extension tube attached to said outlet region of said dust particulate dispenser and dispensing dust particulates through said plurality of flexible duster extension tubes; removing said at least one additional flexible duster extension tube from said second end of said at least one flexible duster extension tube; sequentially inserting said extension tube cleaner into said first end of each of said plurality of flexible duster extension tubes; and moving said tube cleaner from said first end of each said plurality of flexible duster extension tubes toward a second end of each of said plurality of flexible duster extension tubes to expel remaining dust particulates. 